| Asylum seeker boat confirmed and debate over same-sex plebiscite heats up | Good afternoon,
Here's what you need to know about day 46 of the election campaign:
1. IMMIGRATION MINISTER PETER DUTTON CONFIRMS ANOTHER BOAT TURN-BACK
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton held separate press conferences today to confirm 21 asylum seekers has been returned to Vietnam in early June.
Mr Dutton said the group, which travelled in an "unseaworthy" boat, was not found to be owed protection and was flown back to Vietnam.
"People smugglers in Indonesia are watching very closely and they believe if there's a change of government on July 2, the people smugglers will be back in business and people will be back on boats coming to our country," Mr Dutton said.
Mr Turnbull said authorities were aware of another asylum seeker boat that had left Aceh in Indonesia and said it was evidence people smugglers continued to test the Coalition's "steely" resolve.
"The challenge of people smuggling is greater than it has ever been," Mr Turnbull said.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten accused the Coalition of resorting to desperate, shameful tactics.
"You have to love the Liberal Party central headquarters," Mr Shorten said.
"They should be ashamed of themselves, sending out a signal to people smugglers that there is a lack of national will to deter people smugglers."
2. THE AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HIT OUT AT LABOR'S CLAIMS ON MEDICARE
The new head of the Australian Medical Association took aim at the Opposition Leader's claims the Government wants to privatise Medicare.
Dr Michael Gannon said privatising the "rusty" payments system "in no way" amounted to privatising Medicare.
"I've never seen, and nor do I see, a proposal to potentially privatise the payments system as ... a way to privatise Medicare," Dr Gannon said.
"The evidence just doesn't stack up.
"We also understand how important Medicare is to voters and that's why it's such a potent claim from the Labor Party but the AMA will always call governments to account, they will call oppositions to account."
However, Dr Gannon did say he was pleased with elements of Labor's health policy, "most noticeably unravelling the freeze on patient rebates".
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said while the the payment system needed to be upgraded, it would be done by the Government.
"Medicare will never, ever be privatised, it will never, ever be sold," Mr Turnbull said.
Mr Shorten said Labor was also prepared to modernise the system.
3. FEDERAL TREASURER SCOTT MORRISON WEIGHS IN ON GAY MARRIAGE DEBATE
South Australian Labor Senator Penny Wong has argued a plebiscite on same-sex marriage would incite homophobia.
"I oppose a plebiscite because I do not want my relationship, my family to be the subject of inquiry, of censure, of condemnation by others," Senator Wong said overnight.
"And I do not want other relationships, other families, to be targeted either.
"Not one straight politician advocating a plebiscite on marriage equality knows what that is like. What it is like to live with the casual and deliberate prejudice that some still harbour."
Today, Treasurer Scott Morrison weighed in and said he had also endured bigotry from people who disliked his views.
"I understand the concern that Penny is raising, I know it from personal experience having been exposed to that hatred and bigotry for the views I've taken from others who have a different view to me," Mr Morrison said.
"Frankly people of very strong religious views have been subject to quite dreadful hate speech and bigotry as well, it's not confined to one side of the debate."
4. DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BARNABY JOYCE REFUSES TO SPECULATE ON HIS FUTURE
The Nationals Leader faced a full swag of questions from journalists at the National Press Club today, but steered clear of answering what he would do if he lost the seat of New England.
"You never, ever go on to a football paddock talking about what happens if you are going to lose," Mr Joyce said.
"You most certainly never get into the boxing ring talking about what happens if you lose.
"Sorry, I won't entertain the proposition... I am confident, never cocky, I work hard. I keep my humour, I stay humble, and I make sure that if the people of my electorate have other ideas, I will cross that bridge when I get to it."
He pledged $83 million in funding to reduce the period students needed to be employed under the self-supporting criteria for youth allowance and Abstudy from 18 months to 14 months.
He said it meant a student could meet the earnings criteria to prove independence with one gap year "as opposed to having to work for longer and delay their university commencement".
ELECTION SPOTLIGHT: THE DAILY BRIEF
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FROM THE DRUM: WHY SOUTH AUSTRALIA IS A MAJOR BATTLEGROUND
In this election, for the first time in a long time, South Australia is a live state and the results will likely have a significant impact on the national picture, especially in the Senate, writes Greg Jericho.
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